Fourth revision of proposed law unveiled, discussed at latest public hearing

Cazenovia  The residents of Ledyard Avenue have consulted a local zoning attorney to help them fight the village’s proposed law to create a new Western Gateway zoning district on their street; and that attorney told the village board last week that the Western Gateway proposal is nothing more than “spot zoning” that benefits a few to the detriment of the village and, if the law is passed, it will be “vulnerable” to a legal challenge.

The legal threat was not the only new issue raised at last week’s Aug. 4 public hearing on the Western Gateway proposal, however. The latest revised version of the proposed law — Draft 4 — was released by the village July 30 and discussed at the meeting; Brewster Inn owner Richard Hubbard said he has changed his business expansion intentions and will not have any outdoor weddings or events if he ultimately purchases his two neighboring houses; and Western Gateway opponents appeared to have coordinated their arguments, the majority of which centered on the amount of impervious surfaces, such as paved lots, allowed under the proposed law causing massive runoff and doing irreparable damage to Cazenovia Lake.

Also new to the debate on the proposed law last week were multiple residents speaking out in support of the legislation.

The proposed law, publicly introduced in June, would establish a new “Western Gateway” zoning district and change the zoning of certain land parcels on both sides of Ledyard Avenue from Route 13/Lakeland Park to the western village boundary by the Trush property. The intention is to emphasize new and more potential uses for the large old homes on Ledyard Avenue as a way to prevent deterioration of those properties, to maximize land use by allowing more commercial development and to help beautify the village entranceway area overall, according to the proposed legislation.